Container latch system

ABSTRACT

A latch assembly for releasably clamping elongated edge flanges of a container in which a support formed with a stationary elongated jaw for engaging one of the edge flanges carries a movable elongated jaw for engaging the other edge flange and a toggle lever handle for pivotal movement between an open position at which said movable jaw is released and a closed position at which a cam pin on the lever engages the movable jaw to urge it into proximity to the stationary jaw to clamp the container edges together between the jaws.

United States Patent Gley 1 Dec. 5, 1972 [54] CONTAINER LATCH SYSTEM FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS n e l y, Hil1Sdale,N-J- 77,230 12/1961 France ..269/162 Assigneez Rex Inc, Mil aukee, is- Great Britain B [22] Filed: Jan. 19, 1971 Primary Examiner-Albert G. Craig, Jr. [21] App] No 107 789 Attorney-Shenier & OConnor [57] ABSTRACT [52] CL V A latch assembly for releasably clamping elongated [51] Int Cl g 5/02 B25b 0 edge flanges of a container in which a support formed [58] Field 258 70/19 with a stationary elongated aw for engaging one of 269/157 24/263 the edge flanges carries a movable elongated Jaw for 263 C 8 SB B engaging the other edge flange and a toggle lever handle for pivotal movement between an open position at which said movable jaw is released and a closed p0si-' [56] References cued tion at which a cam pin on the lever engages the UNITED STA S ENTS rnovable jaw to urge it into proximity tothe stationary aw to clamp the container edges together between the 425,706 4/1890 Snyder ..292/257 jaws 1,312,496 8/1919 Anderson et al. ..292/257 X 1,944,603 1/1934 1 Hecker ..24/263 B UX 7 Claims, 3 Drawing; Figures .1 CONTAINER LATCH SYSTEM BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Various latch assemblies are known in the prior art for releasably holding the edges of a container together to close the container. Most of these assemblies include a latch mounted on one of the container parts and a keeper mounted on the other container part with the latch being movable between a position at which it engages the keeper and a position at which it is free of the keeper. Many of the latches are mounted for pivotal movement around axes parallel to the line along which the container edgesare to be brought together.

In latches of the type described above, the force holding the container edges together is exerted by the latch only at a point or for a very short distance along the parting line of the container. Moreover, these assemblies are not removable as a unit from the container with which they are associated.

While latch assemblies of the prior art described above function satisfactorily in most installations, there exist installations for which they are not suited for the reasons outlined hereinabove. For example, there are installations in which a container has a extremely long edge along which the two parts thereof are to be joined. It is, moreover, required that the force withwhich the edges are held together be exerted over substantially the entire length. To do so with latches of the prior art would require an inordinate number of latches. Further in such particular installations, it is desirable that the latch assemblies be removable as a unit from the container so that assemblies may selectively be positioned with various spacings therebetween. .It is further required in such installations that the latch assembly have a low profile and that it not be accidentally disengaged. A further desirable feature is that the released condition of the latch be readily apparent to an observer. A particular-installation of the type having such requirements is a container for a large, long missile or the like.

I have invented a container latch system which is especially adapted for use with containers the parts of which must be joinedalong an extremely long parting line. My latch system is readily detachable as a unit from the container with which it is associated. It has a relatively .low profile in the closed position. It readily alerts an observer to the open condition thereof. It is not readily accidentally disengaged.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION One object of my invention is to provide a container latch system which is especially adapted for use with a container which must be closed along an extremely long parting line.

Another object of my invention is to provide a container latch system which is readily removable as a unit from the container with which it is used.

A further object of my invention is to provide a container latch system which alerts the observer to its unlatched condition.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a container latch system which is not readily accidentally unlatched.

Other and further objects of my invention will appear from the following description.

In general my invention contemplates the provision of a container latch system for clamping elongated edge flanges of a container in which a support formed with a stationary jaw for engaging one of the flanges carries another jaw for movement toward the stationary jaw to engage the other flange, as well as a toggle lever for pivotal movement around an axis perpendicular to the parting line between an open position at which the movable jaw is released and at which the V handle is readily visible and a closed position at which the movable jaw is urged toward the stationary jaw by a cam pin on the lever so as to clamp the container flanges together. I

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings I have shown a container such as a missile case indicated generally by the reference character 10 comprising an upper part 12 and a lower part 14. I form the upper part 12 of the container 10 with a flange 16 extending outwardly from the edge thereof and being provided with downwardly extending lip 18. The container bottom 14 includes an outwardly lip flange 20 along its edge. When the two partsl2 and 14 of the container are closed a gasket 22 is clamped between the two flanges l6 and 20 and the lip 18 overlies the edge of flange 20.

It will readily be appreciated that the container 10 may be of any suitable cross section shape. Moreover, the two parts 12 and 14 may or may not be hinged along an edge. It is to be understood that the particular container 10 forms no part of my invention per se. My latch assembly to be described hereinbelow is especially adapted for use with any container having an elongated parting line.

My latch system includes a plurality of identical latch assemblies which may be spaced as required along the container edges to be joined. By way of example in FIG. 1 I have shown two assemblies indicated generally respectively by the reference characters 24 and 26.

I Since both of the assemblies 24 and 26 are identical I IOGOO') 0308 tainer latch assembly taken along the line 3-3 of FIG.

example the pins 34 and 36 may be screwed into the jaw 38. Respective springs 40 carried by the pins 34 and 36 are biased between the pin heads and the upper surface of leg 32 so as normally to urge the upper jaw 38 away from the lowerjaw 30. I

1 form the leg 32 with longitudinally spaced pairs of upwardly extending flanges 42 and 44 and 46 and 48. A shaft 50 carried by the flanges 42 and 44 pivotally supports a toggle lever handle 52 for movement between an open position indicated in broken lines in FIG. 3 and a closed position indicated in full lines. I thread a camming pin 54 into the end of lever 52 remotefrom the handle portion thereof. As the handle 52 moves from the open or broken line position to the closed or full line position, pin 54 moves from one position to a beyonddead center position with respect to shaft 50 to cam jaw 38 downwardly toward jaw 30. Moreover, in the closed position of the handle 52 its end remote from the pivot pin 50 is disposed between the flanges 46 and 48 so that the assembly will not readily become accidentally unlatched. Pin 54 can be threaded into and out of the lever 52 to adjust the amount of camming action provided thereby. Preferably I provide a bore 56 extending completely through lever 52 to permit adjustment of the pin 54 in the closed condition of the latch.

In use of my container latch system a plurality of latch assemblies 24 and 26 are placed over the flanges 16 and 20 at predetermined locations along the length of the flanges with the movable jaw 38 above flange16 and with the stationary jaw 30 below the flange 20. It is to be understood that the latch assemblies are in the open condition when the assemblies are first placed on the container 10. With the assemblies so positioned, the respective handles 52 are moved toward closed positions to cause the camming pins 54 to move the upper jaws 38 downwardly against the action of springs 40 and into engagement with the flange 16 so as to clamp flanges l6 and 20 together between the jaws. The camming force provided can be regulated by screwing the cam pins 54 into or out of levers 52. As the handle moves to its fully closed position the associated cam pin 54 moves to a beyond dead center position with respect to shaft 50 releasably to lock the handle in its closed position. Further in the closed position the free end of each of the handles 52 is disposed between its associated flanges 46 and 48 so that the assembly will not readily become disengaged. In the unlocked position of any of the assemblies handle 52 is erect and may readily be observed so as to signal the unlocked condition.

It will be seen that I have accomplished the objects of my invention. I have provided a latch system which is especially adapted for use with a container the parts of which must be closed over an extended parting line. Each of my assemblies may readily be removed from the container as a unit. My latch assembly is not readily accidentally released from its locked condition. My assembly further alerts an observer to the fact that it is not locked.

It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of my claims. It is further obvious that various changes may be made in details within the scope of my claims without departing from the spirit of my invention. It is, therefore, to be understood that my invention is not to be limited to the specific details shown and described.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A latch for holding a pair of members in closed relationship along an elongated parting line including in combination, a support, an elongated stationary first jaw carried by said support for engaging one of said members along the length of said stationary jaw, a second jaw adapted to engage the other member along the length of the second jaw, means mounting said second jaw on said support for movement between a first position relatively remote from said stationary jaw and a second position adjacent to said stationary jaw, a lever, each of said jaws having a length which is appreciably greater than that of said lever, means mounting said lever on said support for movement around an axis generally transverse to said parting line between an open position and a closed position at which the lever is aligned with said jaws, means on said support partially enclosing the ends of said lever when it is in said closed position, and means responsive to movement of said lever to its closed position for releasably holding said second jaw in said second position.

2. A latch as in claim 1 in which said mounting means supports said second jaw for reciprocating movement in a direction generally transverse to its length.

3. A latch as in claim 1 in which said mounting means supports said second jaw for reciprocating movement in a direction generally transverse to its length, said latch including means biasing said second jaw to said first position.

4. A latch as in claim 1 in which said holding means is a cam on said lever for engaging said movable jaw in the closed position of said lever.

5. A latch as in claim 1 in which said lever has a handle portion at one end thereof and in which said holding means is a cam pin adjustably mounted adjacent to the other end of said lever.

6. A unitary latch assembly for holding a pair of elongated elements in closed relationship including in combination, a support, a first stationary elongated jaw carried by said support for engaging one of said elements along the length thereof, a second elongated jaw for engaging the other of said elements along the length thereof, means mounting said second jaw on said support for movement in a direction generally transverse to the length of the second jaw between a first position remote from said stationary jaw and a second position adjacent to said stationary jaw, a lever having a handle portion adjacent one end thereof, each of said jaws having a length appreciably greater than that of said lever, means mounting said lever on said support above said movable jaw for pivotal movement around an axis generally transverse to the length of said jaws between an open position and a closed position at which the length of the handle overlies the length of said jaws, means on said support partially enclosing the ends of said lever when it is in said closed position, and a cam element on the other end of said lever for engaging said second jaw as said lever moves from said open position to said closed position and said cam being adapted to move beyond dead center with respect to lever pivot for holding said second jaw in said second position in the closed position of said handle. 

1. A latch for holding a pair of members in closed relationship along an elongated parting line including in combination, a support, an elongated stationary first jaw carried by said support for engaging one of said members along the length of said stationary jaw, a second jaw adapted to engage the other member along the length of the second jaw, means mounting said second jaw on said support for movement between a first position relatively remote from said stationary jaw and a second position adjacent to said stationary jaw, a lever, each of said jaws having a length which is appreciably greater than that of said lever, means mounting said lever on said support for movement around an axis generally transverse to said parting line between an open position and a closed position at which the lever is aligned with said jaws, means on said support partially enclosing the ends of said lever when it is in said closed position, and means responsive to mOvement of said lever to its closed position for releasably holding said second jaw in said second position.
 2. A latch as in claim 1 in which said mounting means supports said second jaw for reciprocating movement in a direction generally transverse to its length.
 3. A latch as in claim 1 in which said mounting means supports said second jaw for reciprocating movement in a direction generally transverse to its length, said latch including means biasing said second jaw to said first position.
 4. A latch as in claim 1 in which said holding means is a cam on said lever for engaging said movable jaw in the closed position of said lever.
 5. A latch as in claim 1 in which said lever has a handle portion at one end thereof and in which said holding means is a cam pin adjustably mounted adjacent to the other end of said lever.
 6. A unitary latch assembly for holding a pair of elongated elements in closed relationship including in combination, a support, a first stationary elongated jaw carried by said support for engaging one of said elements along the length thereof, a second elongated jaw for engaging the other of said elements along the length thereof, means mounting said second jaw on said support for movement in a direction generally transverse to the length of the second jaw between a first position remote from said stationary jaw and a second position adjacent to said stationary jaw, a lever having a handle portion adjacent one end thereof, each of said jaws having a length appreciably greater than that of said lever, means mounting said lever on said support above said movable jaw for pivotal movement around an axis generally transverse to the length of said jaws between an open position and a closed position at which the length of the handle overlies the length of said jaws, means on said support partially enclosing the ends of said lever when it is in said closed position, and a cam element on the other end of said lever for engaging said second jaw as said lever moves from said open position to said closed position and said cam being adapted to move beyond dead center with respect to lever pivot for holding said second jaw in said second position in the closed position of said handle.
 7. An assembly as in claim 6 in which said support comprises an elongated U-shaped element having upper and lower legs, said lower leg forming said stationary jaw, said second jaw mounting means comprising pins secured to said second jaw and extending through said upper leg, said pins having heads, and springs biased between said heads and said upper leg. 